MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

C'mon, Chuck. This cuts both ways. Augie lost Pierson Wofford this season.

Robinson left Williams three years ago. Move on. The Ephs fans have done so.

[Mr. Ypsi]

C'mon, Greg.  Was just a random observation during downtime on the season.  But Duncan Robinson is infinitely better than Pierson Wofford.  WITH him, this Williams team would be heavily favored against even Whitman.

[iwu70]

Good luck to Augie in the semis.  Keep going.

IWU'70

[Gregory Sager]

C'mon, Greg.  Was just a random observation during downtime on the season.  But Duncan Robinson is infinitely better than Pierson Wofford.  WITH him, this Williams team would be heavily favored against even Whitman.

Nobody's arguing that Wofford is better than Robinson. I'm just saying that Robinson's been gone for a long, long time, so why even bother bringing him up? As counterfactuals go, this isn't a very good one.

Wofford would be a much more interesting counterfactual, because he was actually an important component of one of the Final Four teams this season. Sam Bohmiller of Babson, whom I suspect will miss the Final Four due to recurring concussion symptoms, is likewise a more interesting counterfactual for discussion than is Duncan Robinson.

[Gregory Sager]

Congratulations to Jordan Robinson for being named an NABC All-American. He's a second-teamer, and, while I was hoping that he'd land on the first team, I'm more grateful than greedy at this point. Robinson is the first NABC All-American that North Park has had since Michael Starks back in 1987-88.

[Gregory Sager]

Current Massey:

1. Whitman
3. Babson
5. Augustana
7. Williams

Massey sez:

Whitman 84, Babson 81 (WC 61%, BC 39%)
Augustana 72, Williams 71 (AC 53%, WC 47%)

[nescac1]

Add Duncan Robinson (who was the best frosh I've EVER seen in D3, significantly better as a first-year player than guys like Mike Nogelo, Aaron Toomey, and Andrew Olson, all of whom won multiple national POY awards) to this exact team?  Williams would blow anyone in D3 away.  But the reality is, had Duncan stuck around, Williams would not have "this team" around him.  Aronowitz would never have had to be the go-to guy and might have developed very differently as a player.  Scadlock would certainly not have developed the way he has late in his sophomore season.  Heck, there would probably be at least one or two guys missing from the current roster.  Or maybe additional guys added.  It's beyond impossible to speculate.  I'm just happy that Williams has recovered from a series of very tough blows after the 2014 season (Maker leaving, Robinson transferring, the top committed recruit in App's first class bagging despite a binding ED admission in order to go D1, then losing starting PG Greenman for the season last year) to get back to Salem so quickly.  To get this far in only App's third season, after a number of tough blows to the program, is remarkable.  Of course, Auggie can say the same thing, to get to Salem despite losing the top six guys and an expected key contributor and with only one senior playing much is likewise pretty remarkable.  Regardless of the outcome tomorrow night, both of these programs should be in very good shape for the next few years, and even for the loser of the game, the experience in Salem should prove invaluable. 

[Gregory Sager]

Add Duncan Robinson (who was the best frosh I've EVER seen in D3, significantly better as a first-year player than guys like Mike Nogelo, Aaron Toomey, and Andrew Olson, all of whom won multiple national POY awards) to this exact team?  Williams would blow anyone in D3 away.  But the reality is, had Duncan stuck around, Williams would not have "this team" around him.  Aronowitz would never have had to be the go-to guy and might have developed very differently as a player.  Scadlock would certainly not have developed the way he has late in his sophomore season.  Heck, there would probably be at least one or two guys missing from the current roster.  Or maybe additional guys added.  It's beyond impossible to speculate.

My point exactly. The further back in time you go, the less one can comment upon a counterfactual with any sort of pertinence. Now, Wofford and Bohmiller, on the other hand, have been important parts of their teams this season, so speculating on how their teams would fare in the Final Four if they were in the lineup is a much more germane "what if".

  I'm just happy that Williams has recovered from a series of very tough blows after the 2014 season (Maker leaving, Robinson transferring, the top committed recruit in App's first class bagging despite a binding ED admission in order to go D1,

That doesn't sound very binding to me.

then losing starting PG Greenman for the season last year) to get back to Salem so quickly.  To get this far in only App's third season, after a number of tough blows to the program, is remarkable.  Of course, Auggie can say the same thing, to get to Salem despite losing the top six guys and an expected key contributor and with only one senior playing much is likewise pretty remarkable.  Regardless of the outcome tomorrow night, both of these programs should be in very good shape for the next few years, and even for the loser of the game, the experience in Salem should prove invaluable.

Not that I want to start this room speculating about next season yet while there's still a team that's playing out this season, but Augie (one 'g', incidentally) may not even be the 2017-18 preseason favorite in the CCIW. North Central, with a healthy Connor Raridon rejoining a team that has NABC All-District center (and possible d3hoops.com All-American, once that list gets announced) Alex Sorenson, All-CCIW second-teamer Erwin Henry, and a couple of really solid CCIW-quality starters in Aiden Chang and Matt Cappelletti, may very well end up being the CCIW preseason favorite instead of Augie.

[AndOne]

then losing starting PG Greenman for the season last year) to get back to Salem so quickly.  To get this far in only App's third season, after a number of tough blows to the program, is remarkable.  Of course, Auggie can say the same thing, to get to Salem despite losing the top six guys and an expected key contributor and with only one senior playing much is likewise pretty remarkable.  Regardless of the outcome tomorrow night, both of these programs should be in very good shape for the next few years, and even for the loser of the game, the experience in Salem should prove invaluable.

Not that I want to start this room speculating about next season yet while there's still a team that's playing out this season, but Augie (one 'g', incidentally) may not even be the 2017-18 preseason favorite in the CCIW. North Central, with a healthy Connor Raridon rejoining a team that has NABC All-District center (and possible d3hoops.com All-American, once that list gets announced) Alex Sorenson, All-CCIW second-teamer Erwin Henry, and a couple of really solid CCIW-quality starters in Aiden Chang and Matt Cappelletti, may very well end up being the CCIW preseason favorite instead of Augie.

And not to add fuel to that speculative fire, but in addition to Raridon, a 2016-2017 D3Hoops preseason All-American, don't forget more than capable subs Nick Chambers, an almost 40% three point shooter in conference play, and defensive wizard Jaquan Phipps, one of the toughest on-the-ball defenders around. In addition, the Cardinals will get Sam Fehrle back. Fehrle was NCC's sixth man in the first several games before becoming an academic casualty.
Everyone who knows the difference between a basketball and a bucket of beer knows the one thing the Cards need to replace next season. Picture the possibility of that spot being filled by a 6'6" PG.

[4samuy]

AO

I love your passion for your team, and they will be excellent next year.  I believe they may be preseason favorites.  I believe they will probably have the he edge as it relates to the starting line up over Augustana. But when the discussion turns to the reserves I think your way off. First off, Brett Benning is going to be an absolute perfect replacement on the wing for Jacob Johnston in the starting line up.  Secondly, 6'5 long and quick Lucas Simon is IMHO a far better perimeter defender than Joaquin Phipps and Brandon Schattner is a better Athlete than Nick Chambers.  Now let's talk about the low post and Sam Fehrle.  When you look at the matchups with 6'9 Donovan Ferguson and 6'8 AJ Dollmeyer along with the potential return of Pierson Wofford, I just don't think NCCs bench has an advantage.  I know you were responding to Gregs post, but wanted to give my opinion. I hope all of us are watching the Augustana tomorrow night.  Good luck Vikings and the CCIW!

[markerickson]

Babson College overcame a 25-point first-half deficit to defeat previously undefeated Whitman, 91-85.

[4samuy]

I'm a poster and financial contributor to D3.com.  Very disappointed in the live stream by NCAA in both games. 

[Augie6]

Anyone know if these announcers are graduates of Williams or a NESCAC school?  Maybe it's just me, but they seemed biased in favor of Williams.  Not the only one who's felt that way, as I have had a couple of other alum text me during the game saying the same thing. 

[Gregory Sager]

I'm not sure where PBP man Lincoln Rose matriculated, although he's already said that his dad is a Williams alumnus. Colorman Dave McHugh is a Goucher grad.

[sac]

I'm not sure where PBP man Lincoln Rose matriculated, although he's already said that his dad is a Williams alumnus. Colorman Dave McHugh is a Goucher grad.

The internet says Mr. Rose is from Texas and graduated from Washington and Lee Univ. with a degree in journalism and earned his J.D. from St. Mary's Univ in San Antonio, Texas.

http://www.lincolnrose.com/index.htm